Lantana plant named ‘Balandplo’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Lantana  plant named ‘Balandplo’, characterized by its pink, orange, and golden tri-colored inflorescences, dark green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, semi-upright spreading growth habit.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Lantana camara.

Variety denomination: ‘Balandplo’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Lantana plant botanically known as Lantana camara and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balandplo’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Arroyo Grande, Calif. during April 2004. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Lantana cultivars with continuous flowering, dark green-colored foliage, and a well-branched, vigorous growth habit.

The new Lantana cultivar was the result of a self-pollination of Lantana camara ‘New Red’, not patented, characterized by its dark red and orange bicolor inflorescences, dark green-colored foliage, and vigorous, mounded growth habit. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated self-pollination during January 2005 in a controlled environment at Arroyo Grande, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since January 2005 at Arroyo Grande, Calif. and West Chicago, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Balandplo’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Lantana plant:

-   -   1. Pink, orange, and golden tri-colored inflorescences;     -   2. Dark green-colored foliage; and     -   3. Moderately vigorous, semi-upright spreading growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the parent primarily in inflorescence color, growth habit, and branching characteristic. The new cultivar branches more than the parent.

Of the many commercially available Lantana cultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is LANDMARK Rose Glow Improved ‘Balandroglim’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,555. However, in side by side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Balandroglim’ in at least the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have a flower color different from         plants of ‘Balandroglim’;     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar are shorter than plants of         ‘Balandroglim’;     -   3. Plants of the new cultivar have more inflorescences with         fully open flowers, as measured at eight weeks, than plants of         ‘Balandroglim’; and     -   4. Plants of the new cultivar have larger inflorescences, as         measured by height and width, than plants of ‘Balandroglim’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balandplo’. The plants were grown in 4.5 inch pots for 8 weeks in a greenhouse at West Chicago, Ill. Plants were given one pinch at transplant.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Balandplo’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual inflorescence of ‘Balandplo’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2001 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined on May 15, 2008 between 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. under natural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and grown in a glass-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown at West Chicago, Ill in 4.5 inch pots for 8 weeks utilizing a soilless growth medium. Plants were given one pinch at transplant. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 70° F. to 77° F. (21° C. to 25° C.) during the day and approximately 65° F. to 68° F. (18° C. to 20° C.) during the night. Greenhouse light levels of 2,500 footcandles to 6,000 footcandles were maintained during the day. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Lantana camara cultivar Balandplo. -   Parentage:     -   -   Parent.—Lantana camara ‘New Red’, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 7 to 11 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 24 to 28             days.         -   Root description.—Fibrous.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 7 to 8 weeks from a             rooted cutting to finish in a 15 cm pot.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Moderately vigorous,             semi-upright spreading growth habit.         -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:             Approximately 20.5 cm. Width: Approximately 41.5 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, pinching enhances             branching. Quantity of lateral branches per plant:             Approximately 4.         -   Branch.—Shape: Square in cross section. Strength: Strong,             becomes woody with age. Length: Approximately 25.1 cm.             Diameter: Approximately 3.0 mm. Length of central internode:             Approximately 5.6 cm. Texture: Densely pubescent with a             mixture of glandular and nonglandular hairs. Gland color:             Colorless, transparent. Color of young stem: 144A. Color of             mature stem: 199B. -   Foliage description:     -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per lateral branch:             Approximately 10. Fragrance: Strong, spicy. Form: Simple.             Arrangement: Opposite.         -   Leaves.—Aspect: Perpendicular to obtuse angle to stem.             Shape: Ovate. Margin: Serrate. Apex: Acute. Base: Obtuse.             Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature leaf:             Approximately 9.9 cm. Width of mature leaf: Approximately             5.4 cm. Texture of upper surface: Scabrous. Texture of lower             surface: Scabrous with a mixture of glandular pubescence             along venation. Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color             of upper surface of young foliage: 137A with venation of             137B. Color of lower surface of young foliage: 137C with             venation of 138C. Color of upper surface of mature foliage:             Closest to 139A with venation of 137B. Color of lower             surface of mature foliage: 137B with venation of 138B.         -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 1.8 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Scabrous with a mixture of             glandular pubescence. Gland color: Colorless, transparent.             Color: 137B. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balandplo’ is freely flowering under             outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous             blooming from spring through autumn and year-round in             greenhouse environment.         -   Lastingness of individual inflorescence on the             plant.—Approximately 10 to 12 days from first color of outer             buds to dropping of last flower. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Corymb. Quantity per plant:             Approximately 6. Fragrance: Strong, spicy. Aspect: Facing             upward or outward. Height: Approximately 3.2 cm. Width:             Approximately 4.5 cm. Quantity of fully open flowers per             inflorescence: Approximately 36.         -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Shape: Square in cross section.             Aspect: Acute angle to stem. Length: Approximately 5.9 cm.             Diameter: Approximately 1.5 mm. Texture: Scabrous and             glandular pubescent. Gland color: Colorless, transparent.             Color: 144A. -   Flower description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Salverform.         -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 1 to 2 days for bud to             progress from first color to fully open flower. Buds open in             progression from the margin to the center of the             inflorescence. Quantity of unopened inflorescences per             plant: Approximately 8.         -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Elongated, rectangular at             apex. Length: Approximately 9.0 mm. Diameter: Approximately             2.0 mm. Color: 13A.         -   Corolla.—Depth: Approximately 1.8 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 1.1 cm.         -   Petals.—Quantity: 4, non-imbricate, non-symmetrical petals.             Petals are fused at base forming a corolla tube. Shape:             Obovate. Appearance: Dull. Aspect: Flat. Margin: Entire,             ruffled. Apex: Obtuse. Length of upper petal from throat:             Approximately 4.0 mm. Width of upper petal: Approximately             7.0 mm. Length of lateral petals from throat: Approximately             5.0 mm. Width of lateral petals: Approximately 3.0 mm.             Length of lower petal from throat: Approximately 6.0 mm.             Width of lower petal: Approximately 6.0 mm. Texture of upper             surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower surface: Densely             pubescent. Color of upper surface when first open: 21C with             an overlay of 30B at tube opening. Color of lower surface             when first open: 21D. Color of upper surface when fully             open: 26B with an overlay of 30B at tube opening; with age             petals transition to 75B with a faint overlay of N74B at             tube opening. Color of lower surface when fully open: 22B;             with age petals transition to 75D.         -   Corolla tube.—Length: Approximately 1.2 cm. Diameter at tube             opening: Approximately 1.0 mm. Diameter at base:             Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture of inner surface: Densely             pubescent. Texture of outer surface: Glabrous at base,             gradually becoming densely pubescent at tube opening with a             mixture of glandular and nonglandular hairs. Pubescence is a             mixture of colorless and N74B. Color of inner surface: 145D.             Color of outer surface: 145D.         -   Calyx.—Shape: Tubular with two broadly acute tips. Length:             Approximately 2.0 mm. Diameter at tip: Approximately 1.0 mm.             Diameter at base: Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture of inner             surface: Glabrous. Texture of outer surface: Densely             pubescent with a mixture of glandular and nonglandular             hairs. Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color of inner             surface: 144D. Color of outer surface: 144D.         -   Bracts.—Quantity per flower: 1 per flower. Shape:             Lanceolate. Length: Approximately 4.0 mm. Width:             Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture of upper surface: Sparsely             pubescent with a mixture of glandular and nonglandular             hairs. Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Texture of lower             surface: Densely pubescent with a mixture of glandular and             nonglandular hairs. Gland color: Colorless, transparent.             Color of upper surface: 144B. Color of lower surface: 144B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 4, adnate             to corolla tube. Stamen length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Anther             shape: Bilobed, ovoid. Anther length: Less then 1 mm. Anther             color: 13B. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: 13D.             Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1 per flower. Pistil length:             Approximately 4.0 mm. Stigma shape: Funnel. Stigma length:             Less than 1 mm. Stigma color: 144A, translucent. Style             length: Approximately 3.0 mm. Style color: Colorless,             translucent. Ovary diameter: Approximately 1.0 mm. Ovary             color: N144B. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests     common to Lantana has not been observed. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Lantana plant named ‘Balandplo’, substantially as herein shown and described. 